The Pictured Books of the NGA: Assignment Two

This assignment is fairly straightforward. Please follow these directions carefully. Choose three works of art (any period, any genre) currently on view at the National Gallery of Art that feature a book(s), a scene of reading or writing, or evidence of book-culture. Two of these works must date from before the year 1800, and they are generally found in the West Building. The third work you choose might likewise be from before the Industrial Revolution and the advent of the mechanization of printing, but if you like you can choose your third "case study" from the 19th, 20th, or nascent 21st centuries (could be in either the East or West Building).

Take three snapshot photos of each of your chosen artworks (a cell-phone camera is fine). One photo should show the entire composition (include the frame if you like, or pedestal if it's sculpture), one should focus on the book-object in closer detail, and one should be a photograph of the museum label. Print these three images on a single sheet of paper. 

Write a miniature essay of  around 200-300 words for each that interprets how the book(s)--or scroll, or other evidence of scripted culture--operates in the composition of the artwork. Describe it carefully. What does the book represent, literally and figuratively? How is it typical or atypical of historical conventions?  Also bring to your writing your historical knowledge about biblio-culture that we've been discussing all semester. Don't be afraid of inserting your own views and ideas. Secondary research isn't necessary for this assignment, but it's also not discouraged. Please remember to proofread your texts carefully.

You can either submit the text and image pages separately, or you can work them into a unified layout. It's OK if some students choose the same works, but I would like as much diversity as possible, so don't just pick the most obvious ones. Have fun.

DUE: November 14 at the start of class. Bring a hardcopy of your texts and matching images, and also send the digital files (pdf or .doc preferred) to my email address, csmith@corcoran.org,  in case we get around to uploading them on a webpage.